Agriculture
Irrigated agriculture is the largest user of water in Arizona, consuming about 74 percent of the available water supply. In the past, this percentage was as high as 90 percent; reductions have been the result of both urbanization of agricultural lands and heavy investment by the irrigated agriculture industry in conservation measures both on-farm and in delivery systems.
These investments and practices help growers stretch water supplies, increase productivity and profits, manage situations of water-supply scarcity, reduce energy costs and meet the conservation requirements of Arizona's 1980 Groundwater Management Code.
The sections below provide water-efficiency information and assistance for Arizona farmers and ranchers.
Conservation Requirements
Arizona’s Groundwater Management Act (GMA) requires regulation of agricultural irrigation water users within five Active Management Areas (AMAs). Non-expansion is one of the GMA’s key components; this provision limits irrigated farmland to those lands that were legally irrigated between 1975 and 1980.
Additionally, agricultural water conservation programs were established in each management plan. The default conservation program (Base Program) has been in place since the First Management Plan. The Base Program assigns irrigation water allotments based on the consumptive use of crops grown between 1975 and 1980, multiplied by an assigned irrigation efficiency. The first modification to the Third Management Plan (2003) created an innovative Best Management Practices (BMP) Program as a voluntary alternative to the Base Program.
Other Agencies
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Agricultural Best Management Practices
The Arizona Agricultural Best Management Practices Committee was established in 1998 by Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S) § 49-457 to research and adopt best management practices (BMPs) for agricultural operations that generate dust. The BMPs are designed to reduce emissions of particulate matter of 10 microns or smaller (PM10) in the Maricopa County Serious PM10 non-attainment area. Periodically the Committee reexamines the BMPs to review effectiveness, modifies them, if necessary, or adopts new measures.
Arizona Department of Agriculture
A cabinet-level statewide agency that regulates and supports Arizona agriculture in a manner that encourages farming, ranching, and agribusiness while protecting consumers and natural resources. It consists of three main divisions: Animal Services, Environmental Services, and Plant Services; and includes a State Agricultural Laboratory; a Citrus, Fruit and Vegetable Standardization and Fresh Produce Grade Inspection program; and an Agricultural Consultation and Training program.
Best Management Practices
Canal Lining
Lining conveyance channels with concrete:
- Significantly reduces seepage losses
- Prevents waterlogging of surrounding lands
- Maintains water quality
- Reduces erosion
LASER TECHNOLOGY TO GRADE LAND
Grading the land to slope specific to soil type and field layout with assistance from laser-guided technology:
- Improves uniform application of irrigation water
- Minimizes or eliminates losses caused by tailwater runoff
- Minimizes percolation of water past the crop root zone
- Minimizes erosion
LEVEL BASIN IRRIGATION
Level basin irrigation systems are small field units (five to ten acres) comprised of level, closed basins. Level basins:
- Improve uniform application of irrigation water
- Eliminate losses caused by tailwater runoff
- Minimize percolation of water past the crop root zone
- Minimize erosion
SPRINKLER IRRIGATION
The efficient use of irrigation sprinklers to meet the water demands of a crop:
- Improves distribution uniformity of irrigation water
- Prevents excessive runoff and percolation of water past the crop root zone
- Increases efficiency of fertilizer applications
- Minimizes erosion
DRIP OR TRICKLE IRRIGATION
Drip irrigation systems use many low-volume, low-pressure water emitters to deliver water to a precise location. The use of above- or below-ground drip irrigation systems to meet the water demands of a crop:
- Improves distribution uniformity of irrigation water
- Minimizes percolation of water past the crop root zone
- Helps maintain soil nutrients within the crop root zone
- Reduces erosion
- Reduces water loss due to soil evaporation
TAILWATER RE-USE SYSTEM
Tailwater is water that did not percolate into the soil before reaching the end of the field during an irrigation run. Collecting irrigation water that leaves its original targeted location and reusing it:
- Increases irrigation efficiency
- Reduces water loss
- Maintains water quality
- Reduces erosion
CROP ROTATIONS
Planting different crops in recurring succession in the same field:
- Increases water holding capacity of the soil
- Increases irrigation water infiltration rates
- Improves crop quality and yield by increasing nutrients and organic matter
- Reduces soil erosion
- Improves water quality
SOIL AND WATER ANALYSIS
The laboratory analyses of soil and water for nutrient content:
- Provides vital information to help maintain or improve favorable physical soil conditions
- Increases crop quality and yield
- Improves water quality
- Improves fertilization efficiency
FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT
Determining the quantity of water being delivered to an irrigation site:
- Provides information critical to making management decisions
- Helps prevent excessive runoff and percolation of water past the crop root zone
- Improves irrigation efficiency
- Reduces soil erosion
BED AND FURROW SHAPING
Manipulating the shape and surface condition of the plant beds and the furrows between the beds:
- Provides for more consistent irrigation runs for furrows
- Increases irrigation efficiency
- Reduces runoff and percolation of water past the crop root zone
- Promotes favorable physical soil conditions
- Improves crop quality and yield
- Reduces soil erosion
IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
Using real-time weather sensing and soil and crop analysis technology to determine a schedule for irrigation:
- Improves ability to manage soil moisture
- Increases irrigation efficiency
- Improves crop quality and yield
- Prevents excessive runoff and percolation of water past the crop root zone
- Promotes favorable physical soil conditions
- Increases efficiency of fertilizer applications
Software & Application Tools
Several tools are available to assist the agriculture community at improving performance and enhancing efficiency. These applications can be downloaded onto your personal desktop or phone.
DESKTOP
AZSCHED
A computer program from the University of Arizona which can be used to assist you in scheduling your irrigations.
DRIP-MICRO IRRIGATION PAYBACK WIZARD
Provides an estimate of how long it will take to recover the costs of investing in a drip-micro irrigation system, as well as estimates of how many additional acres could be irrigated with conserved water.
FIELD TO MARKET
Field to Market convenes diverse stakeholders to work collaboratively to define, measure and advance the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production in the United States. Their work is grounded in science-based tools and resources, system-wide collaborations and increased supply-chain transparency. Their Fieldprint Calculator is a free, confidential online tool developed with input from a diverse group of grower organizations, agribusinesses, food companies, economists and conservation groups to help farmers evaluate natural-resource use on their operations compared to industry averages. These measures could help improve production efficiencies and profit potential.
LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION FORMULAS
Contains useful references for any type of irrigation design, including water-pressure equations, pump calculations, metric conversions and flow and water formulas.
PHAUCET
A Windows 95 or higher design and evaluation tool for furrow irrigation systems. The program uses field and technical information to calculate existing system performance and define alternatives for improving irrigation efficiency.
PHONE APPS
AGWEB
Download the app to receive direct feeds of up-to-date market quotes, weather radar, seven-day forecasts, agricultural news, three-times-daily AgWeb Radio commentary with host Al Pell and more.
ID Weeds
ID Weeds is produced by the University of Missouri's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources' Division of Plant Science. This app allows you to search for weeds by their common or Latin name, view a list of weeds or identify weeds based upon a number of different characteristics.
Growers Edge
From your phone, growers can access weather pinpointed to their fields and find their local and best cash price bids within a 100-miles of their location (adjusted for trucking and storage costs).
Educational Information
There are many useful websites and articles that can provide farmers and ranchers easily accessible information.
WEBSITES
USDA ALTERNATIVE FARMING SYSTEMS INFORMATION CENTER
(AFSIC) specializes in identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices in support of USDA's effort to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and farmers worldwide.
EPA's National Agricultural Center
The Environmental Protection Agency's National Agricultural Center brings together regulatory and non-regulatory agriculture-related information and other items of interest to the agriculture community
National Agricultural Law Center
The allocation of water resources is left up to each state, with very little federal intervention. Each state has its own regulatory system to allocate both the surface waters and the groundwater in the state. Many important legal issues are presented by the use of water in agriculture.
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education
Since 1988, the SARE grants and education program has advanced agricultural innovation that promotes profitability, stewardship of the land, air and water, and quality of life for farmers, ranchers and their communities.
Conservation Technology Information Center
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is a national, public-private partnership and is comprised of members of the ag industry, ag publications and associations, as well as conservation organizations and producers. It is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other public entities.
UA IRRIGATION publications
The Irrigation Water Management program provides growers with up-to-date information on managing their irrigation systems for crop growth. This includes science-based information on crop-water requirements, irrigation-system management and irrigation scheduling. Crop information includes water usage for a variety of crops including vegetables, tree crops and traditional row crops.
UA SUBSURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION (SDI)
Provides information and research on SDI from University of Arizona’s subsurface drip irrigation demonstration and research project at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. Four large 0.62 acre plots equipped with SDI have been established and demonstrate management practices for the sustainable utilization of this method.
CAWSI ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER
A clearinghouse of information and resources on important on-farm practices for sound water management, many of which practices have been overlooked for their potential to help growers and ranchers thrive while being good stewards of the water that flows through farms.
ARTICLES
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT
Agriculture is a major user of water in the United States. How the industry utilizes water resources through irrigation technologies and best management practices continues to be a focal point of agricultue policy.
SMART WATER USE ON YOUR FARM OR RANCH
This publication by the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program details several management practices, with case examples of how each can be used to conserve water on your farm.
DRIP VS. FURROW IRRIGATION
A study by the University of Arizona and part of the 2001 Arizona Cotton Report that compares drip irrigation to furrow irrigation. Results indicate that an increase in lint yield of approximately 250 lbs. lint/acre was obtained under the irrigation system. Approximately one-third less irrigation water was used under the drip irrigation system.
Agricultural Assistance Programs
- Arizona Department of Revenue: Agricultural Water Conservation Credit - Arizona law allows a nonrefundable tax credit for the purchase and installation of an agricultural water conservation system.
- Arizona Department of Water Resources - Water Management Assistance Program - This program is intended to provide financial and technical resources to assist water users in the development and implementation of conservation programs, facilitate augmentation and renewable water supply utilization, and obtain information on hydrologic conditions and water availability in an Active Management Area.
- Bureau of Reclamation: WaterSMART Water & Energy Efficiency Grants - Reclamation offers grants that provide 50/50 cost-share funding to irrigation and water districts, tribes, states and other entities with water or power delivery authority.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Agricultural Management Assistance Program - The NRCS helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Conservation Stewardship Program - The NRCS helps you build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Environmental Quality Incentives Program - The NRCS program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Conservation Loan Program - The Farm Service Agency offers loans to promote conservation practices on farms and ranches that help protect natural resources throughout the United States.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Farm Ownership & Operating Loan Programs - The Farm Service Agency offers loans to help agricultural producers get the financing they need to start, expand, or maintain a family farm.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) - The Farm Service Agency provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted specifically for grazing.
- Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE): Farmer/Rancher Grant - The SARE offers grants to agricultural producers and technical advisor(s) implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture.